Microsoft Corporation, commonly known as Microsoft, is a multinational technology corporation that produces computer software, personal computers, consumer electronics, and related services. The SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is also a famous product of the Microsoft Company, which is designed to manage computer systems running Windows operating systems. It is mostly used for handling devices in terms of software packages, asset management, software updates, or task sequences. 

SCCM admin/engineer/administrator careers can be sparkling, but you must pass many interviews, including HR and technical interviews. We have researched enough and presented some top SCCM interview questions and answers to help you clear the technical interview rounds. 

Common SCCM Interview Questions and Answers for 2024

1. Is SCCM a server?

SCCM is a server application. The architecture of SCCM can be more or less complex. The complexity of its architecture depends on the organization.

2. How does Microsoft SCCM work?

After an operating system is installed, SCCM contributes to updating or patching the system. It maintains the path of the system inventory and remote-control capabilities. Then the System Center Operations Manager controls the responsibility of monitoring the system's health and all the other applications installed on that specific system.

3. State the various types of Discovery methods that are available in SCCM?

The various types of discovery methods that are available in SCCM are as follows:

  • Active Directory System Discovery
  • Server Discovery 
  • Active Directory Security Group Discovery
  • Active Directory User Discovery
  • Delta Discovery 
  • Network Discovery
  • Forest Discovery
  • Heartbeat Discovery

4. What is the SCCM boot image?

The boot image is a Windows PE (WinPE) image used in an OS deployment. Boot images are given to begin a computer in WinPE. This minimal OS consists of restricted components.

5. Explain boundaries in SCCM?

A boundary is a network location on the internet consisting of one or more machines. It can be an active directory site name, IP subnet, IPv6 Prefix, or an IP address range. The hierarchy can add any combination of these boundary types.

6. What is the central site?

A central site is the SCCM primary site, which inhabits the top of the hierarchy of the configuration manager. A central administration site assists numerous child-primary sites. The central site database gathers all the information rolls from child to parent.

7. Explain the child site?

The Child site is a site that gets information from higher-level sites. The Child site gives information to its parent site. The child site is connected to a site above it in the hierarchy.

8. What is the parent site?

The parent site is a site at the top level in the hierarchy, and it does not come under any other site.

9. What do you mean by BDP?

Branch distribution points provide a choice for structured package distribution. The branch distribution point depends on the standard distribution point from which it gets content. It can be premise, having limited bandwidth.

To function correctly, branch distribution needs to contact a BITS-enabled standard distribution. 

10. Tell us something about inventory in SCCM?

The inventory gives machine details like operating system, memory, processor type, and application. 

There are two kinds of inventory:

  • Software inventory: It gathers files from the client device and supplies them to the website server. Whenever the software inventory runs on a client machine, the first report is always a complete inventory. The next reports consist of only delta inventory information.
  • Hardware inventory: It gathers details about the client's hardware configuration. When hardware inventory runs on a client machine, the first inventory data that the client returns is a full inventory. The subsequent set of inventory data contains only delta inventory information. 

11. What are the ports used in SCCM?

Ports used in SCCM are:

  • Client to site system HTTP port 80
  • TCP 2701
  • Default HTTPS port 443
  • SMB 445 

12. How to check the SCCM server version?

Open the SCCM console, next click on the left on top, and select the configuration manager.  

13. What do you mean by site server in SCCM?

A site server is the main role that contains components and services needed to run a central administration, primary, or secondary site. It is a classification of which user will install the outline manager. 

14. Explain Heartbeat Discovery?

Heartbeat Discovery is a discovery method that is enabled by default. It runs on each computer client instead of a site server to create a DDR (discovery data record). It runs on a schedule configured for all the clients in the hierarchy or if manually invoked, on a particular client by running the Discovery Data Collection Cycle. 

15. What is the use of the state migration role?

The state migration role takes a backup and migrates user state data. It takes the task sequences to catch and retrieve the user states while deploying the operating system. The user state migration tool captures user accounts, user files, application settings, and operating system settings and then shifts them to the new windows installation.  

16. Mention the different application detection methods defined in SCCM?

The different application detection methods are as follows:

  • Registry
  • File system
  • Custom detection
  • Windows installers 

17. What is the SMS provider?

The SMS Provider is a WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) provider that allows both read and write access to the configuration manager site database at a site. Each CAS and primary site need at least one SMS provider. More providers can be installed as per the requirements.

18. Make a list of differences between the primary site and secondary site?

Primary Site

Secondary Site

Clients can be allotted directly to the primary site

It is not possible to allot clients directly to the secondary site.

A primary site can have its child site, or it can be a child site of another primary site.

Secondary sites can’t have a child site, and it can’t be a child site of any other secondary sites. 

The primary site gives access to MS SQL Database.

It does not give access to MS SQL Database.

The primary site can administer through the Configuration Manager console.

It can only administer through the primary site.

19. Explain what the SCCM console is?

The SCCM console is an administrative instrument that performs several tasks such as device management, network, application deployment, and server administrative tasks. This is the single windowpane from where SCCM admin can perform Patch, Applications, OS deployments, and many administrative functions.  

20. What is the Central Administration Site (CAS)?

A Central Administration Site (CAS) is an SCCM primary site that occupies the lid of the hierarchy. It is also known as the top-level site in the order. It assists only primary sites as a child site. It handles all clients in the hierarchy and performs all site management tasks from the console to connect with the Central Administration Site (CAS). 

FAQs

1. What kind of tool is SCCM?

SCCM represents System Center Configuration Management. SCCM is also known as Configuration Manager. Microsoft develops a software management group that allows the user to handle the computer systems that run on Windows/Mac OS/Linux.

2. List out the essential features of SCCM?

The essential features of SCCM are listed below:

  • Patch management 
  • Deployment of operating system 
  • Power management 
  • Desired Configuration
  • Software deployment
  • Reporting
  • Inventory 
  • Asset tracking
  • Remote control
  • Endpoint protection

3. What is patching in SCCM?

To fix the bugs in software, each vendor releases a patch. Installing these patches to one or more systems is known as software patching. Patching keeps the system secure from cybercriminals.

4. What are the skills required for SCCM?

An SCCM should be fluent in patching and software distribution. They must keep the latest knowledge of software applications, services and software skills. They are supposed to be able to build and distribute software packages. 

5. What are the types of the sender in SCCM?

There are two types of the sender in SCCM:

  • Standard Sender
  • Courier Sender
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Conclusion

Although many other jobs exist, the SCCM role is incomparable since it contributes a beneficial set of skills for an organization. Therefore, the demand for individuals with SCCM skills is prominent. SCCM job roles are available almost everywhere. 

If you want to start a career as an SCCM engineer or administrator, you must first clear an SCCM technical interview. The SCCM interview questions and answers can help you clear the interview. We hope that it will assist you in revising your knowledge to prepare for the interview much more confidently and help you to get an SCCM job.

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